DAIKIN AirCon Water Leakage – Reasons and Solutions

Introduction

Spent a ton on a DAIKIN aircon unit but experiencing a frustrating water leakage problem? You are not alone. (Almost 90% of people have reported aircon water leaks.) The pains of a leaking aircon unit is felt by many other Singaporeans with the widespread usage of air conditioners in the excruciating heat we experience daily. A leaking aircon unit can lead to an inconducive workplace and messy floors in retail stores. In worse cases, an unsafe place at home for the frail elderly if they slip and fall. Fortunately, you will be relieved to know that this issue is extremely common and easy to fix. The article helps you to firstly identify the problem and then understand its causes. Subsequently, you will learn measures to take for temporary damage control and even permanent solutions as well.

Reasons for Aircon Water Leakage

Condensation on Flaps of DAIKIN AirCon Unit

So you notice that water droplets are forming on the aircon flaps and rolling off onto the floor. This is mainly due to mild condensation of air from the air conditioner onto its flaps. The problem worsens when Quiet Mode is turned on. This mode enables weak airflow, which facilitates the process of condensation of water vapour into water droplets. Another reason for weak airflow is dirty evaporator coils as they often get choked.

Furthermore, if the aircon flap is facing an upwards angle, cold air will be blown directly onto it. Thus temperature on the surface of the flaps is lowered and rate of condensation increases.

You may have heard from aircon technicians to reduce the number of electronic products under your aircon. The reason for this is because electronic products generate heat energy. They warm the air around the air conditioner unit especially if they have been turned on for prolonged periods. Therefore, the rate of condensation of warm water vapour in the air into water droplets on the cold surface of the aircon flaps is increased.

Condensation on Cold Copper Pipes

To identify this issue, notice the black patches forming on the outside of the white trunking of your aircon. This happens when excessive amounts of water forms onto the copper pipes in your DAIKIN aircon due to condensation. The reason for this could be the worn out Armaflex insulation that is being used. The older models of Armaflex insulation are only 3/8 inches thick. Compare this to the upgraded model of today that is 1/2 inch thick and thus longer-lasting. The thicker the insulation layer, the better it is in protection against water that is formed during condensation. If you are using an inverter aircon from DAIKIN, such an upgrade is necessary. This is because of the increased gas pressure as compared to a non-inverter aircon unit. Unfortunately, water leakage from copper pipes is a major problem that requires professional assistance.

 Congested Back Tray

This problem is a lot more difficult to identify since it results in water droplets dripping behind your aircon. This problem was less common in the past when the design of aircon units allowed for water on the evaporator coil (from condensation) to fall into a drainage pan. Currently, because the exterior look of a unit is valued more, a less functionable interior design is favoured in units. This leads to water droplets flowing towards the back of the aircon, the backtray. As time goes on, water accumulated onto the evaporator will clog up the backtray. Therefore, water droplets will start rolling down from the back of the aircon unit.

Loose water hose

One more reason for water leaking from your DAIKIN air conditioner unit is the loose connection of water hose. This problem may occur within 1-2 days of bad aircon servicing. The technician did an unprofessional job and was careless in tightening the hose to the drainage pipe. You are advised to give a call to the air-conditioning technician for clarification so he can rectify the issue immediately. For more trustworthy services, do contact us for future aircon services.

That being said, this may be a result of gradual wear and tear as well. In that case, simply leave it to the experts to solve it for you. In the mean time , there are solutions that can act as damage control while waiting for aircon technicians to help you.

Solutions to Aircon Water Leakage

Place a pail underneath your DAIKIN aircon unit

If water is continuously dripping down non-stop, it should be the case of a choke in drainage pan and this requires professional assistance. Whilst waiting for the arrival of aircon technicians, place a pail directly below the aircon unit to catch water dripping down as a temporary measure for preventing wet floors. As an added tip, place dry cloth in the pail. This is to prevent the incessant sound of water falling onto the surface of the pail, which may be distracting to you.

Tape pieces of cloth onto the wall

If water leakage happens on the back of the DAIKIN aircon unit instead, there will be water dripping down on your walls. This can be caused by either a clogged backtray or loose water hose. You should not let this go on for too long as there may be damages to the floorboard or the surface of your wall. To solve this temporarily, simply tape pieces of cloth onto the wall. These pieces of cloth will absorb the water rolling down on the wall. As for permanent solutions, you may need a chemical overhaul to prevent your backtray from choking again. If the water hose is loose, just notify the aircon technician to fix it for you.

Changing Settings of your DAIKIN aircon unit

Condensation is a big part of water leaking from your aircon unit. One solution for this is to alter the fan speed of your aircon. A general rule of thumb is to maintain maximum fan speed. This lowers the pressure in the copper pipes and thus reduces the rate of condensation, leading to less excess water droplets formed. So, remember to check your aircon remote control regularly and take note of this setting. Do note that it may take a while for this method to take effect as it takes time for the insulation in the casing to dry up first before you turn the aircon on again.

Check the aircon filter of your DAIKIN aircon unit

A dirty aircon filter or dirty coil increases the rate of condensation in aircon units as well. As the air is prevented from escaping the coil, there will be a build up in pressure in the copper pipes. Therefore, if the aircon filter is dirty, you can try washing it and see if there is a decrease in water leakage. If there are many other parts in your aircon that are dirty as well, it will be a good idea to call Silverback Aircon for professional aircon services.

Consequences of water leakage in air conditioner units

Although the problem of water leakage is not the most urgent as compared to other issues such as a faulty AC condenser, there may be consequences if you procrastinate solving this issue. The biggest one would be the unfortunate damage of vinyl flooring, which can be costly to fix. To be frank, it is possible to leave a pail to collect falling water droplets and protect your flooring. However, it can be rather distasteful to have a pail that is out of place in an area. Furthermore, the incessant dripping sound of water into the bucket can be painfully annoying to some.

Despite the fact that the air conditioner unit can function properly even with mild leaking, it takes up way more energy (causing higher electricity bills) and puts a heavy burden/strain on the unit. It may incur a higher cost if other parts of the unit are spoilt.

An important thing to note is that the liquid that is leaking from the aircon unit may not be water but refrigerant. This causes an increase in electricity bills and longer time for your house to cool down. Furthermore, it may be dangerous if the refrigerant evaporates and becomes toxic gas. Therefore, it would be best to seek our technicians and tackle the problem as soon as possible. This reduces the risk of wrongly identifying the leakage.

Contact Us

Here at Silverback Aircon, we have a trustworthy team of experienced technicians that can aid you in rectifying all your aircon problems. Call us at 91775500 if you have any enquiries!